The Spanish Supreme Court has confirmed the acquittal of Brazilian forward Neymar and others involved in the alleged irregularities surrounding his transfer to FC Barcelona in 2013. This decision follows the earlier ruling by the Barcelona Court, which took place nearly four years ago.
Key Facts of the Case
The Supreme Court’s announcement was made on April 16, 2026. It highlighted the “inconsistency of the accusation,” which was only pursued by Brazilian company DIS. This company owned 40% of Neymar’s federative rights when he was still an emerging talent at Santos FC.
Details of the Ruling
- No evidence of corruption or improper fraud was found against Neymar, his representatives, or FC Barcelona.
- The court stated that the case stemmed from a sporting decision by the club to secure Neymar’s signing, which was later advanced.
This ruling upheld the December 2022 decision made by the Barcelona Court, which had also acquitted Neymar, his parents, former Barcelona presidents Sandro Rosell and Josep María Bartomeu, and a former official of Santos FC.
Background of the Legal Dispute
The legal saga began in 2015 when DIS accused FC Barcelona, Neymar, and his entourage of misleading them about the true cost of the controversial transfer. DIS received €6.8 million from the transfer but claimed they were not informed about a supposed exclusivity contract with Barcelona in 2011, which they argued affected competition for the forward.
- The public prosecutor later withdrew their accusations, indicating a lack of criminality in the charges presented.
- The high-profile trial in Barcelona in 2022 featured Neymar, who was then with Paris Saint-Germain.
Despite DIS’s appeal after the Barcelona Court’s verdict, the Supreme Court’s latest decision marks a definitive end to this convoluted legal situation related to Neymar’s transfer to FC Barcelona.
